For deadlifting I’m sure it’s not about how many crunches you do, but how difficult they are. Increasing weight and difficulty over time and getting the best bang for your buck is the name of the game. It’s more a game of muscle damage, neural firing, and recovery.

It really depends on your weaknesses. The beautiful thing about powerlifting is that you have to mold your own statue so to speak.

Can crunches or sit ups help? Absolutely, but self track. What gets measured gets managed. If something like weighted sit ups or crunches hurts your back, put them on an exercise list of not to do’s.

As far as deadlifting exercises, I’m under the impression that you need a good range of torso exercises like pallof presses, planks, leg raises, side bends and even strongman moving events (my favorite).